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0. M. SCHMIDT.

SPUR. I No. 304,460. Patented Sept. 2, 1884.

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 304,460, dated september 2, 1884.

Application filed June 25, I884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. SCHMIDT,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Protected Spurs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, ref-I" erence being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a cover or protector for the rowel or pointed wheel in a spur and it consists in the arrangement and operation of the device, sub stantially as shown in the drawings,and described and claimed hereinafter.

By reference to the drawings it will be seen that Figure 1 is a plan of a spur, illustrating one form thereof to which my invention is applicable. Fig. 2 is a section taken at right angles to the rowel. Fig. 3 is a section through line 00 of Fig. 1, at right angles to the section shown in Fig. 2, portions of both Figs. 2 and 3 being in elevation; and Fig. 4 is an elevation looking toward the rowel.

Similar reference letters indicate corresponding parts in each of the figures.

In said drawings, A is the rim of the spur, or that part thereof that fits around the heel.

Bis the neck thereof, connecting the rim and the rowel, which is lettered C, said neck and rim being integrally united, as shown in said drawings. The neck is reduced in diameter, forming the portion 1) thereof, and the diameter of this is still further reduced, forming the portion b which is provided with a slot, (2, therein, as-shown in Fig. 3. The end of the portion 1) may be made smaller than said portion, and is slitted to receive the rowel G, which is provided with sharp radial points, and is pivoted therein.

G is the protecting device, composed of the hollow barrel g and the bulb or rounded portion 9. The interior of the barrel of the cover is a little larger than the portion 1), so

as to slide thereon, and the face of the bulb is slitted to permit the protrusion of the rowel. Extending across the interior of the barrel and through the slot d in the portion Z) of the neck is a pin, h, and between said pin and the shoulder b is arranged a spring, 2', which, bearing against said pin, presses the cover over the rowel and protects the same.

In operation the pressure of the bulb of the cover against the body of the horse forces said bulb backward and uncovers the rowel, permitting it to pierce the side of the horse, the barrel of the protector sliding back upon the portion b of the neck being limited in its movement by the shoulder b. lVhen the pressure is removed,the cover, under the pressure of the spring, automatically returns to its normal protecting position, as shown in the drawings.

In the drawings but one form of construction is shown, to which I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself, since, as is evident, the details of construction may be varied considerably, the principle of action therein shown being applicable to many styles and forms of spurs. For instance, the cover can be applied to those spurs which do not use a rowel or toothed wheel, but employ a fixed point.

The advantage resulting from the construction above described will be readily appreciated. The rowel, being completely covered, will not catch in the harness or in the accouterments of the soldier or officer, or interfere with their movements under any circumstances.

I am aware that it is not new to provide a cover to the rowel of a spur; hence I do not wish to claim the same, broadly.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a spur, the combination of a rowel, the neck having a slot therein, a repressible protecting-cover provided with a pin moving in said slot, and a spring, all said parts arranged and operating substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In combination, in a spur, the rim. and neck integrally united, said neck being provided with a slot therein and a shoulder, b

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of thereon, a rowel, a protecting-cover provided with a pin passing through said slot in the neck and moving therein, and a spring ar- June, 188i. ranged around said neck between the pin and CHARLES M. SCHMIDT. shoulder I) ,on the neck, all said parts being \Vitnesses:

arranged and operating substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

CHARLES H. PELL, F. F. CAMPBELL. 

